While Japanese manga and novels are gaining popularity overseas, Kodansha, a major publisher, has signed a partner contract with a prestigious soccer club in the United Kingdom.
We would like to raise international recognition and further strengthen our overseas expansion by setting up a booth to introduce the company's efforts and cooperating with club activities.
According to Kodansha, the partnership agreement was signed this spring with the world-famous English Premier League "Liverpool."
The contract includes a booth to showcase the company's efforts, a sign with a logo on the home stadium, and a program to get young people interested in creative work as part of the club's social contribution activities. We are also considering publishing a book that introduces clubs and players.
According to Kodansha, it is the first time for a Japanese publisher to conclude a partner contract with an overseas soccer club, and we would like to further strengthen our overseas expansion by raising international recognition.
Kodansha President Yoshinobu Noma said, "Our content is being viewed overseas more than we think, but little is known about the publishers that make it. Only in Europe. I think that contracting with a club that has many fans in the United States and Asia is a powerful way to raise awareness of the company. "
Popular publishers of Japanese manga and novels to expand overseas
With the growing popularity of Japanese manga, novels, and anime overseas, publishers are increasingly focusing on overseas expansion.
Specifically, Shogakukan has established a subsidiary in Singapore to publish books in various languages based on local needs, and Shueisha distributes works translated into English and Spanish overseas. We have launched a manga app for Singapore.
In Japan, sales of paper publications are declining, and the situation called the publishing recession continues, which is one of the factors that support overseas expansion, where further demand is expected in the future.
Kodansha President Yoshinobu Noma said, "I always have a sense of crisis that I will not be able to respond to changes unless I do new things one after another. By advancing these movements, the Japanese publishing world I want to revitalize. "